What are you reading? (Dec 2013)

[Emily]

Oh how I love the Terre D'Ange books.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Emily wrote: "Oh how I love the Terre D'Ange books."

Yeah, me too. Though I've yet to read Morin's story.

I picked Kushiel up on a humbug while walking past a bookcase, lol. It wasn't even on the menu this month.

[Paul]

I've just finished Raising Steam. It was ok but nowhere near as good as Pratchett at his best unfortunately. I think this may be the last Discworld book that I read as I haven't enjoyed the last few all that much.

I'm currently reading The Fuller Memorandum. Really enjoying this series so far and would highly recommend it.

Next up I think is going to be The Suicide Exhibition: The Never War, I really enjoyed the Milkweed books by Ian Tregellis and this looks like it might be along the same lines so I'm keen to give it a go.

[Nyssa]

I was going to read another book club selection, Steelheart, but I'm still in a light reading, MG/YA, state of mind, so I'm going to continue my series challenge.
Next up will be a reread:
NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley.
It was such a fun read, plus we just bought the last one for our kids, and the full set for one of our nephews as a Christmas gift, so I want to complete the series myself.
I might just read all five of them back to back, but I haven't decided as yet.
I have four other books that I would like to read this month. Our other book club selections:

1. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (of course)

2. The Book by M. Clifford

3. Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon

And a selection from another GR group:

4. Range of Ghosts byElizabeth Bear

[Felina]

I just officially gave up on Lord of the Flies. After struggling with that book for 6 months I realized that I'm an adult and I don't 'have' to read it. Bye boys on the island. I hope things work out...or not...don't care.

[Lee]

Paul wrote: "I've just finished Raising Steam. It was ok but nowhere near as good as Pratchett at his best unfortunately. I think this may be the last Discworld book that I read as I haven't enj..."

Do you get the feeling that it isn't Pratchett writing them anymore? Or that he isn't writing the same? Its a shame but not unexpected.

[Lee]

I'm reading Steelheart, should be done later today, and then will read Mitosis.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Just picked up The Fuller Memorandum. I'd read the ones before it but it's been a while.

[Paul]

Nienna wrote: "Paul wrote: "I've just finished Raising Steam. It was ok but nowhere near as good as Pratchett at his best unfortunately. I think this may be the last Discworld book that I read as ..."

He definitely doesn't feel like the same writer any more, and it wouldn't surprise me if he was getting help with some aspects of the writing. For me the books are not as clever or funny as they used to be and the even the old familiar characters don't feel like themselves any more.

As you say, I think it was going to happen at some point given his situation but still very sad to see.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Felina wrote: "I just officially gave up on Lord of the Flies. After struggling with that book for 6 months I realized that I'm an adult and I don't 'have' to read it. Bye boys on the island. I hope things work o..."

I don't even know how you got started! I have a slew of classics/must reads that bore the snot out of me (I'm looking at you, 1984).

[Felina]

I've just had that book floating around for years. I deleted it from my books and put it up for trade in PBS. I don't know why I so easily forget that I never enjoy classics.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, Bad Girls Deadlift]

Felina wrote: "I've just had that book floating around for years. I deleted it from my books and put it up for trade in PBS. I don't know why I so easily forget that I never enjoy classics."

I like a couple.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is great.

[Felina]

My heart loves A Christmas Carol and The Count of Monte Cristo. All the other classics can suck it!

[[deleted user]]

I tend to enjoy the classics the same way I enjoy modern litfic, in that there are always clunkers that have inexplicably survived the ages. I don't mind books that experiment with writing style though so it's easy for me to adjust to the different mode of storytelling. I have to be in the right frame of mind to start one.

[Nyssa]

The Lord of the Flies was one I was never interested in reading. the whole concept just rubbed me the wrong way from the outset of hearing the gist of the story. I was thankful it was never pushed on me in highschool.

[Felina]

It's the lack of a decent editor that usually kills me for classics. Words just to have words. But LOTF was just barren of characterization which is my basic requirement for any book. I'd read a book about people eating dinner if the characters are well written.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Felina you like The Count of Monte Cristo have you tried any of the other swashbuckling "classics"?

MrsJ mentioned The Scarlet Pimpernel there's also Captain Blood, Scaramouche, The Prisoner Of Zenda and others. Just a thought. I especially love a couple of those.

[Felina]

I haven't. And honestly, I don't trust to try. I've been burned at a much higher rate in classics. I've officially given up on them. My New Years resolution for 2014 is to not read a single classic. Huzzah!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

I kinda want to watch the Scarlet Pimpernel with Richard Grant. Anyone know if they're any good?

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Okay I'm not trying to convince anyone to read anything...that said, "Classics" are not some monolithic set of books. Tolkien is not Steinbeck, Dumas is not Dickens, Orczy is not Kafka nor Sabatini nor Zane Grey nor George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) nor Mark Twain nor Mary Shelley nor Robert E. Howard nor Bram Stoker nor a thousand other magnificent writers that have left us some of the most breath taking, enthralling and lasting literature imaginable. It's lasted hundreds of years.

So...don't read it if you don't want, that's fine. But don't lump all classics together as if they are some uniform group.

[Felina]

I'm not saying they are all bad. I admitted to the ones I like (also really liked Dracula) but the bad far outweighs the good in MY book. That being said, based on MY experience, I am walking away from the genre. Feel free to view them as magnificent works of art and allow me to view them as musty old tomes.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I said I wasn't trying to convince you to read anything.

But Classics aren't "a genre".

Still it's a free country and I would never take away your right to do or not do as you please. Enjoy.

[Felina]

Just saying that scolding me isn't going to make an impression. Or at least not a good one.

[Felina]

Touché.

[Emily]

Yes, I'm with Nicole. It's not necessarily about not liking "classics," which are obviously broad. It's more about the feeling of needing to read something because you HAVE to, rather than just because you want to.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I wasn't scolding lumping "classics" together as a "group" just hit me crossways. I needed to point out that they are individual books, that's all.

In 50 or 75 years Jim Butcher and Elizabeth Moon will be classics.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Y'all need to know that a lot of what Felina says is tongue in cheek. Don't be so offended by her opinions.

And Benji, if you're going to look down on her for her opinion of classics, at least have the decency to point it out with literate sentences. You'll look a lot more pretentious that way.

[Nyssa]

Come on guys, don't do this. No fighting. This group has been really fun so far..lets not go negative.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon, Not a book hipster!]

Classics: http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static...


I'm a bit anti-classic myself mostly because, as Nicole said, I sometimes find myself reading a "classic" because I feel like I ought as opposed to having any actual interest in it.

This has never gone well...

There are a few I'm interested in, though, which I might get around to eventually...

[Nyssa]

Colleen wrote: "Classics: http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static...


I'm a bit anti-classic myself mostly because, as Nicole said, I sometimes find myself reading a "classic" because..."

That list would make an interesting thread topic...which we've read, wanted to read, refused to read, tried to read, had to read (school) or maybe never even heard of before.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

Good idea, Nyssa.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Let's be cool. I really wasn't trying to scold i was just saying that classic books are the same as contemporary books. Each their own and subject to different readers' tastes.

[Chris , cookie guilt]

I like some classics. It wasn't me that said that.

Reading Comprehension 101

[Nyssa]

Nyssa wrote: "Come on guys, don't do this. No fighting. This group has been really fun so far..lets not go negative."

This! ^ yes, I know I'm quoting myself.....

Chris wrote: "Good idea, Nyssa."

Nicole wrote: "*slowly backs out of unnecessarily hostile conversation and returns The Dark Monk"..."also agrees with Nyssa""

I'm glad you guys like the idea. Not sure if I should start a thread or wait for a mod. Don't actually know what the rules are here, about that.

Nicole wrote: "The point is to enjoy what you read and read what you enjoy :-)"

More This! ^

[Benjamin]

Chris wrote: "I like some classics. It wasn't me that said that.

Reading Comprehension 101"

Jack and Jill? Humpty Dumpty? Harry Potter?

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Dr. Seuss...

[Becky]

Nyssa wrote: "I'm glad you guys like the idea. Not sure if I should start a thread or wait for a mod. Don't actually know what the rules are here, about that."

Our only rules are 1) Don't be a douchebag, and 2) Don't spam.

You're cool to create whatever threads you want... unless they're filled with douchebaggy spam. :)

[Becky]

Closing this one since it was requested to have monthly threads to keep them more manageable.

New thread is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...